Chapter 43 - Episode 42: Collecting on a Favor
"Knight Bachelor Arqvist-sama, welcome. We are honored by your visit today."
"Thank you for greeting me personally, Benedict-san."
"Since our guild has received a contract for a major transaction from your lordship, it is only natural that we provide the utmost hospitality."
The "utmost hospitality" Benedict spoke of was evident in the tea served before Noein. After taking a sip, Noein thought that this was likely made from the highest grade tea leaves available within the kingdom.
Noein had noticed the rank of the tea being served change after signing the wholesale contract for lapis lazuli roughs.
The tea served until then had been sufficiently high-quality, but as a tea lover, Noein could tell that it had become even more expensive after that contract was signed. This was likely evidence that the Miles Guild considered Noein a guest who should be welcomed with the highest level of hospitality.
Being treated with such hospitality naturally didn't feel bad. Thinking this inwardly, Noein brought up the reason for today's visit.
"I received word that the items I requested for procurement had arrived, so I have come to collect them. I was looking forward to it so much that I couldn't wait and came without sending a prior notice... Please forgive my sudden visit for such a childish reason."
For the sake of a new experiment, Noein had requested the procurement of a certain item from the Miles Guild immediately after winter ended.
Since it was a rarity barely known in the Kingdom of Roadberg, it took both time and money, but after approximately two months since the request, notice finally arrived that it had been obtained.
When Noein, who was both a noble and a VIP customer, visited, the Miles Guild needed to be mentally prepared to receive them. Therefore, while a prior notice should normally have been sent shortly before the visit, Noein had visited without an appointment upon receiving the long-awaited news.
"No, no. We are the ones who feel apologetic for taking so much time to procure the requested items."
To Noein, who apologized with a smile like a fine young man, Benedict responded with equal humility.
"Even so, it is a particular honor to have your lordship visit in person, rather than your usual attendant."
"I thought that this request may have placed a great burden on you, Benedict-san, so I wanted to convey my gratitude directly."
"No, that is not... well, as a merchant, it was certainly a job that gave me a great sense of fulfillment."
Benedict gave a slight bitter smile, speaking indirectly about how difficult the request had been. Noein was also aware of the trouble caused to him, so Noein repeated the thanks, saying, "I thank you once again."
"Without further ado, may I see the items?"
"Yes. I shall guide you."
Guided by Benedict, Noein moved from the reception room to the guild's warehouse.
What was there was a large amount of soil, spread across a giant tub about the size of a small bathtub. Plants were growing from the soil, and things that looked like beans were bearing fruit.
"Is this it?"
"Yes. These are 'soybeans' procured from the east of the continent."
"It must have been quite a task to transport them alive, along with the soil... You truly went through a lot of trouble."
"No, no, this is all to repay the kindness I have received from your lordship."
One of the experiments Noein decided to tackle this year was to cultivate these soybeans as a new cash crop for the Knight Bachelor Arqvist territory.
Soybeans are, as the name suggests, a legume crop, but they are almost unknown in the southern part of the continent, including the Kingdom of Roadberg. They are originally native to the eastern part of the continent.
Among the books Noein read as a child, there were materials and adventure logs describing the east of the continent, and based on that information, Noein had decided to make soybeans the subject of a new attempt.
"Now then, since you have successfully procured the soybeans, I promised to tell you what I intend to use them for."
"Yes, if it is not an inconvenience, I would be grateful if your lordship could enlighten an unlearned merchant such as myself on your thoughts."
"Of course, I will keep my promise... Actually, I am thinking of making oil from these soybeans."
"Oil... you say? Is it possible to make it?"
"Yes. In a book I read in the past, it said that oil can be extracted by crushing and squeezing soybeans."
In the south of the Kingdom of Roadberg, oil is made from things like olives, but in the north of the kingdom, olive cultivation is difficult due to the climate.
Inevitably, they end up using animal fats or monster fats, but such oils spoil easily, and candles made from animal fat have a strong smell.
In such a situation, if they could cultivate soybeans, which are strong against cold and dryness, and produce vegetable oil, it would become a specialty product of the Arqvist territory.
"If the commercialization of soybean oil succeeds, I intend to wholesale much of it to the Miles Guild. I believe it will be a good business for you as well."
If it became possible to produce and export oil within the territory, the wide-area sale and distribution would inevitably rely on the Miles Guild anyway. That was why Noein revealed the reason for procuring the soybeans to Benedict, implicitly conveying that "if you wait quietly, I'll let you profit from the distribution of soybean oil."
"That is... that is truly wonderful news for us. I find myself even more unable to look your lordship in the eye."
"Hahaha, when that time comes, I would be happy if you could grant me another request."
"If our guild will suffice, I shall do my utmost for none other than Arqvist-sama."
.....
After confirming the items, they returned to the reception room for the payment procedure.
"Regarding the sale price of the procured soybeans, the price of the items themselves is 10,000 Rebro for the soybeans and soil combined, as per the prior contract. And as for the transport costs... combined with various other fees, it comes to 76,000 Rebro."
At the amount presented by Benedict, Noein did not seem surprised and produced the currency prepared in advance, saying, "I understand. Please confirm."
Considerable effort had gone into this procurement of soybeans.
The Miles Guild, whose reach extended at most to the eastern edge of the kingdom's north, had to use other large guilds with overseas transport networks as intermediaries to cross the Pallas Empire in the east—where the movement of merchants was restricted due to conflict—and have the soybeans delivered from the country further to the east.
Furthermore, it was said that the soybeans had to be brought and cultivated along with the soil in which they had taken root, not just the beans themselves. Therefore, they had been transported in a living state.
It was, so to speak, like transporting an entire small field. It was no wonder the costs had piled up to this extent.
"...I have confirmed it."
The confirmation of the large sum of 8 gold coins and 6 large silver coins, combining the product price and transport costs, was completed, and the transaction ended successfully.
"Now then, Benedict-san, without further ado, may I make another request?"
"Y-yes... if it is a request from your lordship, I shall gladly listen."
Even as he said this, Benedict wore a slightly strained smile.
The Miles Guild was making a considerable profit from the lapis lazuli roughs contract. Noein had bestowed a great kindness upon them, and that kindness was expanding every month in real-time.
Therefore, if it was a request from Noein, he could not easily refuse. However, something difficult was still difficult. In fact, the procurement of soybeans, which Benedict had carried out by utilizing his connections to the fullest, had been an immense struggle.
He couldn't help but brace himself, wondering what kind of troublesome request would be made next.
"Actually, I was wondering if you could introduce me to a reliable slave guild... My territory is somewhat lacking in labor, so I am considering the bulk purchase of slaves."
Hearing the content of the "request," which was far lighter than he had imagined, Benedict breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
"Understood. I shall introduce you to a slave guild that is the largest in the Viscount Koenitz territory and has a proven track record."
"Thank you. That helps."
With the increase in facilities to manage, such as public baths and waterwheel mills, and the economic scale growing due to population increase, the Arqvist territory had fallen into a labor shortage once again.
Additionally, the attendants, who were too busy to manage the farmland, and Dmitri the carpenter, who continued to build houses for the increasing number of immigrants, were also seeking new labor.
For that reason, Noein had decided on the bulk purchase of slaves. Noein felt relieved that the Miles Guild had agreed to act as the intermediary.